BuildSarah’sReadingList

by SB Sarah Friday, December 28, 2007 at 06:53 AM

As I’ve been working on The Book, I’ve realized that there are woefully large holes in my romance reading education. Never mind that every day is “Help a Bitch Out” day in my brain as I try to remember which plot goes with which title and author name. I am one of those people who remembers the cover image and color scheme more than the names. It’s truly a flaw, but it’s not as bad as my inability to remember numbers. I am a complete mess when trying to remember an address in Manhattan, where there’s building numbers, street numbers, floor numbers, and suite numbers. Forget it. Everyone needs to live on a named avenue.

Anyway, as I’ve confronted these giant gaping embarrassing holes in my romance knowledge, I have decided to do what I usually do when I realize I don’t know about something. I fire up the OCD and start reading and learning as much as I can as fast as I can until my brain says, “ENOUGH. GO WATCH QVC while I percolate!”

So! Here’s my plan: January 2008: I’m going to read category novels. HQ: Presents, SilDesire, Blaze - as many as I can. I’m skipping the Steeple Hill as inspirational romance is another gaping hole to be leaped over at a later date.

(February 2008: Black Romance. Any and all romance featuring African-American protagonists. But I’m not ready to plan that one yet.)

My plan is to read and review as many category novels as I can, though the reviews may be smaller than my normal nattering of many, many words, so that I can not only familiarize myself with as many of these books as possible, but understand how they work and why they comprise such a popular and enduring niche in the romance publishing world. Fortunately for me, my wallet, and my bag (and my back!) I am starting to build an eBook library bit by bit so if I can find some titles online, that makes me a happy Sarah.

If you have any recommendations - series romance past, present, or way, way back in the day - please pass it along. I’m a-hunting a wide sample.

House Rule: You may, of course, recommend your own book, BUT for every one of your own books you mention, you must recommend one by another author. 

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Comments

Picture of CM CM said on...
12.28.07 at 07:14 AM |

I’m going to recommend Jessica Bird and Annie West, neither of whom are me, both of whom are really good.

Picture of Taylor Reynolds Taylor Reynolds said on...
12.28.07 at 08:03 AM |

I recommend Cindy Dees and her Medusa series. They started out as Sil. Bombshell books, but then the line collapsed and they are through Sil. Romantic Suspense now.

The series is about a kick-ass group of military Special Forces chicks. Think GI Jane, but actually more realistic as Cindy is ex-military and her hubby is stil in.

Picture of Lorelie Lorelie said on...
12.28.07 at 08:10 AM |

Well there’s the eHarlequin freebie ebooks between now and Jan 1.  You can pick up one a day. 

Otherwise, I’m not much help.

Picture of Mollyscribbles said on...
12.28.07 at 08:15 AM |

Vivi Anna’s Nocturnes are a good option for that line.  They’re both excellent.

Picture of Marianne McA said on...
12.28.07 at 08:29 AM |

Judith Duncan - The Renegade and the Heiress. I like her writing, and I think that’s the most categorish title possible. Wouldn’t have read it if I hadn’t known the author was good.

Nora Roberts - because you have to. Lots of choice. I like Convincing Alex - it has a good heroine - she’s very individual.

Suzanne Brockmann - Harvard’s Education. Haven’t read this recently, so I don’t know if it’s stood the test of time, but I read it until it disintegrated when it first came out.

Kathleen Korbel - I’d choose Simple Gifts - very positive heroine, very troubled hero - and I also liked practically all of Justine Davis’ earlier books. If you read her ‘Leader of the Pack’ together with Korbel’s ‘Simple Gifts’, and Nora’s ‘Convincing Alex’, you could then write a treatise of the policeman as hero in romance.

And I remember thinking Linda Howard’s MacKenzie books were something special when they came out. ‘MacKenzie’s Pleasure’ was my favourite.

Are you doing Regency categories as well, or is that for another month?

Picture of Karen Duvall Karen Duvall said on...
12.28.07 at 08:30 AM |

I’m going to recommend anything by Karen Templeton. She used to write for the Silhouette Intimate Moments line, but now writes for Silhouette Special Edition. Her books are feel-good wonderful, and she can be pretty funny, too. One of my favorites of hers was EVERYBODY’S HERO.

Picture of Mary Castillo Mary Castillo said on...
12.28.07 at 08:37 AM |

I don’t write category but I love reading it. I highly recommend One Pefect Man by Lynda Sandoval (Special Edition) and now I’m completely blanking on an SE that I read recently that blew me away. Ay yi yi!

Holy crap, I’m getting so frickin’ old.

Now and Forever by Nora Roberts is a classic. LOVE that book!

Oh wait now I remember. The Night Shadows series by Linda Conrad was really good.

Good luck!

By the way, you are such a wench for hooking me on Loretta Chase! I was going to finish my book but oh no, you had to recommend an author who rocks. Damn you, SmartBitches! (In a good way, of course!)

Mary C.

Picture of Randi said on...
12.28.07 at 08:38 AM |

Lorelie,

where do I find the free ebook on Harlequin? I don’t see anything on their website that mentions that offer.

Thanks!

-Randi

Picture of SB Sarah said on...
12.28.07 at 08:42 AM |

Randi:

Go to http://ebooks.eharlequin.com and in the middle of the main page is a red and orange scrolling ad for “free eBook every day until Jan 1.”

Today’s offer is “Her Rebel Lord.”

Picture of Marianne McA said on...
12.28.07 at 08:48 AM |

Went outside to put the chickens in, and remembered another policeman hero I loved. Book’s Rachel Lee’s ‘Cherokee Thunder’.

Again, I haven’t read it in ages, and it may have dated. I think category books do date more quickly than other books somehow. Perhaps it’s because, by their nature, you read a lot of them, so a plot that is new and interesting when you read it first, seems old hat when you reread the book at a later juncture.

And Keeper by Patricia Gardner Evans - can’t remember anything about the book, except that I thought it particularly good when I read it. And there’s fishing in it.

Picture of SB Sarah said on...
12.28.07 at 08:51 AM |

“Went outside to put the chickens in?” That could be a fantastic euphemism for some naughty business!

Picture of Stephanie Doyle said on...
12.28.07 at 09:12 AM |

I love “old” category. 80s/90s.

Linda Howard - Sarah’s Child. Anything with Mckenzies or Kell Sabin.

Jayne Ann Krentz - Joy (Temptation) was always my favorite - but any of her Temptations are awesome.

Nora - The MacGregors. Period. The end.

If you can find them - Sandra Brown, Janet Evanovich and Tami Hoag in Loveswept.

Barbara Delinski - Temptation.

Rachel Lee - Intimate Moments - Miss Evangaline.... somethign something - was my favorite.

What’s cool about reading the bestsellers back when they were young - is you can still see the voice and what makes them great, but because the stories are more focused you can enjoy the central romance without all the other stuff that comes with single title.

Picture of Jill Sorenson said on...
12.28.07 at 09:24 AM |

I recommend Jamie Sobrato.  She writes for Blaze.  I also just read Vicki Lewis Thompson’s Talking About Sex (Blaze 2005) and OMG was it hot.

Picture of StephB said on...
12.28.07 at 09:25 AM |

SB Sarah and Lorelie - I went to the http://ebooks.eharlequin.com/ link Sarah listed and saw that ad for free ebooks, but I couldn’t figure out where where the ad linked - no matter how much I clicked inside it, nothing happened. Are we supposed to click outside the ad itself? Or is my Safari browser just not working well with Harlequin today?

(Or even more possibly, am I just missing something obvious? It’s been that kind of day...sigh!)

Thank you!

Picture of SB Sarah said on...
12.28.07 at 09:39 AM |

You can try this page and see if that works.

Picture of MaryKate said on...
12.28.07 at 09:49 AM |

Sarah - I recently finished two LoveSwepts by Tom and Sharon Curtis: A Golden Touch and Lightening Lingers. Both are wonderful, in that awesomely retro 80s romance way. A Golden Touch features a rock star hero and a preacher’s daughter.

Also, I agree with whomever recommended Linda Howard’s MacKenzie’s. In particular, try to spend some time with Zane MacKenzie (McKenzie’s Pleasure). He’s just delicious.

I also love Night Watch by Suzanne Brockmann. I own most of her Tall Dark and Dangerous series, but Wes is my favorite.

My favorite Nora is Dance of Dreams, which can be found in Silhouette’s rerelease anthology called Reflections and Dreams. It’s wonderful too.

Picture of Theresa M Theresa M said on...
12.28.07 at 10:07 AM |

Don’t know if you plan to include Special Editions in your reading, but Judy Duarte and Crystal Green both have lots of great books in that line. 

I also love Mary Buckham’s Invisible Recruit and Sharron McClellan’s Midas Trap in the Bombshell line (I think they both now write under the Sil Romantic Suspense now).

Jane Porter is one under the Harl. Presents line that’s good to read.  Always has very yummy heroes.

Picture of Julie Leto Julie Leto said on...
12.28.07 at 10:51 AM |

RT just announced their 2007 Reviewer’s Choice awards...here are the Blazes:

BEYOND BREATHLESS
Kathleen O’Reilly
(January 2007)

ALL OVER YOU
Sarah Mayberry
(April 2007)

STRIPPED
Julie Leto
(August 2007)

SWEPT AWAY
Dawn Atkins
(September 2007)

SEX BOMB
Jamie Sobrato
(November 2007)

I also love Jamie Sobrato’s books, and Vicki Lewis Thompson and Leslie Kelly and Tori Carrington and well, too many to name.

Picture of SB Sarah said on...
12.28.07 at 10:56 AM |

Hey Julie - congrats on the nomination!

Picture of Lynda the Guppy said on...
12.28.07 at 11:13 AM |

I have to agree with Marianne who recommended Kathleen Korbel (aka Eileen Dryer);

Elda Minger used to write for Temptation and I love her;

Fiona Brand, Justine Davis, for SIM;

Christine Rimmer likes cowboys for SSE.

Lori Foster wrote for Temptation for a while. I like her earlier categories MUCH better than her current stuff. I loved her book “Fantasy” which was for Temptation. I think it’s been rereleased. There was a spin-off of that book that became one of her singles for St. Martin. Didn’t like the spin-off NEARLY as much as the original.

If you want the “classics” there’s always Kay Hooper, Jenny Crusie, Linda Howard, Nora Roberts, etc.
I’ll have to surf through my collection and see if I can find anything else. I love category books because they’re such quick and easy reads.

Picture of Julie Leto Julie Leto said on...
12.28.07 at 11:31 AM |

Thanks, Sarah.

Picture of KellyMaher KellyMaher said on...
12.28.07 at 11:33 AM |

A lot of my favorites have been mentioned, but I have to second or third the following:

Nora’s MacGregors
Linda Howard’s MacKenzies (especially MacKenzie’s Pleasure as I own *three* original copies...it is one of my top 10 romances, evah)
Fiona Brand’s Down Under SAS books (I liked Blade’s Lady and Gabriel West: Still the One)
Kay Hooper’s Hagen series from Loveswept

I’d also like to pipe up for Donna Kauffman’s early Blazes, Her Secret Thrill and His Private Pleasure.  I think those may have been the last categories I made a point of reading.  Oh, wait, I did read Julie Miller’s In the Blink of an Eye from Harlequin Intrigue and liked it.  I’ve been meaning to catch up and read the other stories in that series for years.

Picture of Jaci Burton Jaci Burton said on...
12.28.07 at 11:43 AM |

Julie Leto, Jo Leigh, Alison Kent, Jill Monroe, Stephanie Tyler, Leslie Kelly...all great Blazes. (And I know I’m forgetting some. I really love the Blaze line!)

Karen Templeton writes wonderful books. Smart, funny, heartwarming and romantic.

Nalini Singh writes awesome Desires.

None of these people are me. (I wish! Heh)

Picture of Sandra Schwab Sandra Schwab said on...
12.28.07 at 11:55 AM |

Here are some of the authors I consider “classics” among the Harlequin Presents & Romance lines:

Violet Winspear (her books were published 1960s-80s, and apparently she is still very popular among category readers, particularly in Australia)

Anne Mather (HP)

Kate Walker (HP; I enjoyed all of her books)

Penny Jordan (HP; loved, loved, loved Lover by Deception—amnesia story *g*)

Miranda Lee (HP; many of her older books, e.g. The Playboy’s Proposition, are more playful than the usual HPs)

Sarah Craven (HP)

Lynne Graham (HP)

Charlotte Lamb (HP)

Lucy Gordon (HR; her books tend to be somewhat melancholic, but also rather unusual: The Pregnancy Bond is great, and The Italian’s Wife by Sunset is one of the most unusual romances I’ve ever read: it contains very detailed descriptions of the setting, several passages consist of dialogue only (no speech tags!), the heroine is seven years older than the boyish-looking hero, and the happy ending isn’t quite as happy as one might expect from a category romance)

Susan Fox (HR; her Prodigal Wife is my most favourite romance ever!)

Liz Fielding (HR; A Wife on Paper is just great!)

Leigh Michaels (HR)

Margaret Way (HR)

Jessica Steele (HR)

~*~

I hope this helps. :) Do you also need titles of Harlequin Historicals?

Picture of SusanL SusanL said on...
12.28.07 at 12:29 PM |

Mr. Family by Margot Early, Harlequin SuperRomance #711, from Oct 1996.

Agree w/rec of Karen Templeton, particularly her earlier SIMs.

Rachel Lee’s SIM Conard County series was outstanding.

Kathleen Korbel SIMs, particularly A Rose for Maggie and The Ice Cream Man.

Picture of Marilyn Marilyn said on...
12.28.07 at 01:13 PM |

Roxanne St. Claire.  Hands down one of the best category writers out there.  Her McGrath brothers series for Silhouette Desire is fabulous (Like a Hurricane, The Fire Still Burns, When the Earth Moves).  Another terrific one is Sins of His Past.  But the absolute best is His Style of Seduction, which is a December 07 Desire.  The hero is unconventional yet utterly alpha and sexy.  The scene where the hero and heroine meets will leave you hot and bothered, and the resolution will have you in tears.  Gotta read HSOS.

Another fave category writer is Kristi Gold.  My favorites of her books are House of Midnight Fantasies (Desire May 06 and don’t let the crappy cover turn you off).  HOMF was a Rita nominee this year and combines a touch of paranormal with a lot of sexy.  Another good book by Gold is Fall from Grace, one of the launch books for the Harlequin Everlasting Love line.  It reads like a single title book.

Both St. Claire and Gold have a great way of intermingling sensuality with humor.

Picture of MplsGirl said on...
12.28.07 at 02:15 PM |

Geez, I hadn’t read a category romance since 1988 (that’s the year my step-mom unsubscribed from Harlequin’s book club) until I read Louise Allen’s “Virgin Slave, Barbarian King” this weekend. Based on the recs on this list, I requested a couple from my library. My last foray into category romancelandia proved that they are uneven in terms of talent and storytelling ability. I appreciate having a list from the discerning SBTB readers.

SB Sarah--good luck in your quest to round out your romance knowledge. I might follow along . . .

Picture of Keziah Hill Keziah Hill said on...
12.28.07 at 02:39 PM |

If you want to get an idea of current tastes in category, it’s best to read what’s on the shelves now. The classics are great but a lot of them wouldn’t be published now because they don’t fit into the requirements of the lines (which is a real problem for HMB I think, they’ve become less adventurous). That said, my favs are Bronwyn Jamison, Nalini Singh, Annie West and of course new Desire author and past crit partner Paula Roe :-) Also anything by Ruth Wind and Virginia Kantra. I tend to go for categories with moving stories. It’s a personal preference thing, but stories where the hero and heroine are trapped or in someway only interacting with each other, I find boring. They have to be doing something and letting the world in. That’s why I like Nora Roberts old categories.

Picture of Jami Alden Jami Alden said on...
12.28.07 at 03:50 PM |

Linda Howard and Elizabeth lowell’s old categories are fantastic for from old school bitch slappery from the heroes - there’s one linda howard where the hero throws the heroine down a cliff I think.

As for more recent - I read a great Silhouette Desire by Rocki St. Claire recently - I think it’s called the CEO’s Scandalous Affair, or something like that, but I really liked it.

Picture of Dragonette said on...
12.28.07 at 04:52 PM |

I always liked the Silhouette Shadows line. 
Candlelight Ecstasy and Loveswept, if you can find them
Jayne Krentz did a mystery series, but I don’t remember what line it was under.

Picture of RandomRanter RandomRanter said on...
12.28.07 at 05:28 PM |

Trying not to repeat some of the fabulous suggestions, I would Catherine Mann - she has the Wingman warriors series, i think there’s a Blaze in there, and some others too.
And Amy J. Fetzer and Merlin Lovelace - I am blanking on the titles of theirs I really enjoyed right now.

Picture of wordworm said on...
12.28.07 at 05:39 PM |

jeez Sarah---i can’t help you...because i have the same request. actually a blanket request(didn’t i put my foot in there?) in that i need a Romance Guide...to the books,gals....how do i post this request,or did i just do...hey, i’m an Engish Lit major...i can write. seriously....where do i start that’s not a Stupid Place....anyone out there help meee,pleeeease

Picture of Kay Webb Harrison said on...
12.28.07 at 06:39 PM |

“Jayne Krentz did a mystery series, but I don’t remember what line it was under.”

It was for Dell, the Guinevere Jones series of four books, set in Seattle and environs. She wrote under her Jayne Castle name. I own one and would love to read the others. When will they be reissued?

Kay

Picture of JulieB said on...
12.28.07 at 06:46 PM |

I agree with the recommendation that you try to find some Bombshell books. I’m not versed enough to recommend specific writers at Harlequin or Sillohuette, but I do know I was pretty impressed with the premise behind that line and was sorry they ditched it.
I also thought it was interesting to see a themed line and look at how different authors contributed to the ongoing series.
Maybe you can post the titles you find and we can have a read-along! :)

Picture of Roslyn Holcomb Roslyn Holcomb said on...
12.28.07 at 07:16 PM |

Uh, Sarah, I hesitate to do this, because I’m thrilled to death that you’re doing African American books, but could you NOT do them in February? I know it’s AA History Month and all that jazz, and the link seems obvious, but a LOT of black people find it really annoying. Of course, it’s just a suggestion. If it’s a choice of doing them in February or not at all I’ll be delighted to have them done in February.

My only category romance suggestion would be just about any of Brenda Jackson’s, but especially Delaney’s Desert Sheikh.

Picture of Teresa said on...
12.28.07 at 07:17 PM |

Classic series books that have stood the test of time, simply because publishers have re-printed or recorded the books.

CJ’s Fate by Kay Hooper at Audible.com

There are 15 of Nora Roberts’ series books at Audible.com, unabridged.

Getting Rid of Bradley by Jennifer Crusie at Audible.com and Fictionwise.com

MacKenzie’s Pleasure and MacKenzie’s Mission by Linda Howard at Audible.com

The Complete MacKenzie Collection at Fictionwise.com is on sale right now for almost 50% off.  4 books and a novella for $11.63 is a steal.  I paid full price for these, just to have in my e-book reader for whenever I want to re-read.

Also at Fictionwise, Anne Stuart’s Out-Of-Print Gems, including Cinderman (worth the cost just for the exploding cars), Night of the Phantom, One More Valentine, Wild Thing, and The Soldier and the Baby.

At Fictionwise. The Grail Keepers Duo by Evelyn Vaughn. consisting of AKA Goddess and Her Kind of Trouble, these 2 books start a multi-author series that is pretty good.

The Tall, Dark, and Dangerous Series by Sizanne Brockmann is for sale at Fictionwise in sets of 3 books each.

The Pack Collection by Karen Whiddon at Fictionwise, including One Eye Open, One Eye Close, and Secrets of the Wolf.  I picked these up, even though I haven’t been reading series books for the last 3-4 years.

The Wings in the Night series by Maggie Shayne is also really good. At Fictionwise.

All of that to say, check out Fictionwise and Audible. Harlequin is publishing all of their series books in e-format, and Fictionwise carries them every month. Lots of reading for no storage space.

Other solid series authors include Susan Mallery, Karen Templeton, Catherine Mann, and Marie Ferrarella.

Picture of Jill Jill said on...
12.28.07 at 07:36 PM |

Wow, lots of good recs. Almost all my faves are already recommended.  Not much I can add Jessica Hart writes great fun Harlequin Romances. 
I also love Suzanne Brockmann’s series under the old Silhouette Intimate Moments line, Tall, Dark, and Dangerous.  “Get Lucky” is my favorite of that series, the first category romance I read and probably still one of my top ten books of all time.  Perfect if you love the “plain girl gets the playboy” type of story. Except, this plain girl has a great sense of humor and instantly sees through all his b.s.  She calls him a Ken Doll when she first sees him.

Picture of Zoe Archer Zoe Archer said on...
12.28.07 at 08:03 PM |

I was pleasantly surprised by Kristin Hardy.  I tried a few of her Blaze titles, and wasn’t wowed, but I really did enjoy “Under His Spell,” one of her Silhouette Special Editions.  Strong writing and excellent characterization.  I’m not a category reader, but she really did impress me.

Also, I have to plug my friend Diane Pershing’s books for Silhouette Intimate Moments. 

If I may kick it old skool, and if it counts, might I also proffer the ass-kickingly incredible Carla Kelly, who wrote Signet Regencies for years, and her latest was a Harlequin Historical.

Picture of Sandra Schwab Sandra Schwab said on...
12.29.07 at 07:45 AM |

Here are some of the authors I consider “classics” among the Harlequin Presents & Romance lines:

Ooops, I should have perhaps mentioned that most of the people I’ve listed for the Harlequin Presents and Harlequin Romance lines are still writing for the same lines. So, they are, sort of, modern classics of category romance. :)

Picture of Estelle Estelle said on...
12.29.07 at 08:10 AM |

When it comes to series romance I only enjoy the ‘vintage’ ones. Anything having words such as ‘virgin’, ‘secret baby’, ‘billionnaire’, ‘pregnant’, ‘cowboy’, ‘sheik’ etc...in the title won’t do it for me. What happened to normal titles anyway?

That said, I’d rec Susan Napier, especially Secret Admirer (I think the hero will surprise you). Napier hasn’t met a widow(er) or amnesia plot she didn’t like but the writing is top notch. I discovered her thanks to blogger Rosario.

I’m also very fond of Charlotte Lamb and Sara Craven. Lamb wrote very un-pc books back in the 70s/80s and she’s aguilty pleasure of mine.

Picture of Melissa said on...
12.29.07 at 11:57 AM |

I wish I could recommend current category authors, but I keep very few these days.  Been that way for the last 5 years or so.  :( Justine Davis’ Redstone, Inc. books under the Silhouette lines are good, and Merlene Lovelace is writing for...Sil. Romantic Suspense.  (I think) I’ve kept a few Blazes, and two or three Harlequin American Romances, but that’s it.

As for the classics, nearly all of my favorite authors have already been recommended.  But let me add Iris Johansen’s early Loveswepts, BJ James’ Silhouette Desires (esp. the Men of the Black Watch books), Elizabeth Lowell, Dallas Schulze and Maggie Shayne from the Silhouette Intimate Moments line.  I kept nearly all of their 80’s books. :) Plus one of my all-time favorites from the Harlequin Temptation line--the Sheriff of Devil’s Fork by Regan Forest from the early 90’s.  Humor, sex and ghosts all mixed together in a wonderful story. 

You’ll have to hit the USB or your library to find these books, so good luck!

Picture of wordworm said on...
12.29.07 at 01:02 PM |

i am serious-and am sorry to butt in on Sarah’s thing here...but i need help in the RomanceRead Dept...where do i start that isn’t Stupid...i mean we’re supposed to be SMART Bitches here’’’’contact me at and i will appreciate everything----but skankiness....luvyajude

Picture of Keziah Hill Keziah Hill said on...
12.29.07 at 01:40 PM |

Completely forgot Kelly Hunter! Her Sleeping Partner was the best category I read all year. Excellent writing!

Picture of Emma Petersen Emma Petersen said on...
12.29.07 at 04:43 PM |

I know you’re not ready to plan February yet but I have a couple of advance recommendations.

Anything by Ann Christopher. Trouble is my ultimate favorite.

Anything by Karyn Langhorne (I loved A Personal Matter)

Anything by Francis Ray (I LOVE her Graysons novels)

Anything by Deanna Lee (I definitely reccommend Barenaked Jane)

Make Me Remember by Emma Petersen (Yes, that’s me. :D)

Picture of Kim said on...
12.29.07 at 09:14 PM |

I want to second the nomination of Mr. Family (Harlequin Super Romance #711)
and author Lucy Gordon (Harlequin Romance)

Here’s a couple of suggestions from my keeper shelf.

1. Anyone but You by Jennifer Cruise. I know that it’s been reprinted, but I picked up a copy in thrift store and it was originally a Harlequin or other category romance. Anyway it’s very funny and breaks a lot of the category romance “traditions”

2. Baby Business by Brenda Novak (Harlequin Super Romance #955 2000) One, if not my favorite super romance.

3. Beguiled by Susan Spencer Paul (Harlequin Historical from 1998)

4. The Baby Bargain by Dallas Schulze (Silhouette Intimate Moments 1991)

5. Hurt So Good by Olivia Rupprecht
(Loveswept #580 from the “Bad Boy” series.1992) I suppose that this is really a guilty pleasure

Other guilty pleasures
Lynne Graham (Harlequin Presents) I can’t explain why, but I have several of her books on my keeper shelf.

Stephanie James aka Jayne Ann Krentz, Amanda Quick, etc. She wrote a whole bunch of “ultra alpha male hero” books in the 1980’s under the Stephanie James name. The Golden Godess is the one I had on my shelf for a while and Gambler’s woman. I wouldn’t actually enjoy most of the heroes in real life, but the fantasy is ok for a couple of hours.

Picture of Anonym2857 Anonym2857 said on...
12.29.07 at 11:38 PM |

Some of my All Time Favorite Books Ever are categories. In fact, now that I think about it, MOST of them are categories. They include:

NIGHT OF THE HUNTER Jennifer Greene
AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN Rachel Lee (Sue Civil Brown)
DRAGONSLAYER Emilie Richards
MANHUNTING Jennifer Crusie
ANYONE BUT YOU Jennifer Crusie
A ROSE FOR MAGGIE Kathleen Korbel (Eileen Dreyer)

Really, you can’t go wrong with anything by Nora, but I would suggest the MACKADES if you want a short series, the MACGREGORS for a long one, or for a couple of singles, I’d go for DUAL IMAGE, GABRIEL’S ANGEL or LOCAL HERO. Well, today, anyway. Tomorrow I might choose differently. LOL

And for the Linda Howards, the MACKENZIE series is great, but if you just want a bit of flavor, go for DUNCAN’S BRIDE or WHITE LIES.

Some others to sample might be:

BETTER THAN BEFORE Judith Duncan
THE CARPENTER’S LADY Billie Douglass (Barbara Delinsky)
DANIEL AND THE LION Margot Dalton
FEVER Elizabeth Lowell
TALK OF THE TOWN Mary Kay McComas
A CRIME OF THE HEART Cheryl Reavis
WHERE THERE’S SMOKE Margaret St George (Maggie Osborne)
A HUSBAND BY ANY OTHER NAME Cheryl St John
THE AUSTRALIAN Diana Palmer
A VERY SPECIAL FAVOR Kristin James

Those are the ones that come to mind w/o climbing the stairs to sift through the shelves. No doubt I left out boatloads of good ones. Sigh. Now I’ll end up going through books and won’t get anything else accomplished this weekend. Damn you, Sarah!!

Diane
easily distracted from chores I don’t wanna do anyway to look through books

Picture of Gwendy said on...
12.30.07 at 07:35 AM |

Don’t miss:

Special Gifts by Anne Stuart

Good Time Girl by Candace Schuler

Mackenzie’s Mountain by Linda Howard

Picture of Marianne McA said on...
12.30.07 at 09:30 AM |

Wordworm - hard to know what to suggest - people’s tastes are so different. Have you looked at the AAR boards? (likesbooks.com). They’ve a list of their readers 100 top romances - or if you ask on the reader to reader message board, with a bit more information as to what you’re looking for (one person’s skanky is another’s must read) - you’ll get lots of suggestions.

Picture of Aubrey said on...
12.30.07 at 10:10 AM |

I also would recommend Maggie Shayne--her Wings In the Night series is great.

Some fairly recent Blaze’s I’ve enjoyed:

Private Confessions by Lori Borrill (Feb. 07, hot boss, a “sexy” dating website and horoscopes)

The Naked Truth by Shannon Hollis (Sept. 07, part of a series but works well as a standalone)

It’s A Wonderfully Sexy Life by Hope Tarr (Dec. 06, slight paranormal twist with a full-figured heroine, pretty hot at times and a decent mystery)

Anything for You by Sarah Mayberry (Sept. 06, erotic comedy set in Australia that’s also a best friend story...what’s not to love?)

I also love Nora’s MacGregor and Stanislaski series from Silhouette if you’re going for some “classics.”

Picture of monimala monimala said on...
12.30.07 at 12:25 PM |

I went through a long period of collecting Harlequin Intrigues. Sadly, I sold almost all of them to a half-price bookstore.  But I really got a huge kick out of Caroline Burnes’ FEAR FAMILIAR series.  While most Intrigues follow your basic formula, a cheeky cat narrating a romance title was a nice change.

Personal favorite Intrigues that I couldn’t bear to give up: Only a Whisper, by Gayle Wilson (June 1996) and Puppets, by Jenna Ryan (December 1992).

Tess Gerritsen and Rebecca York wrote a lot of good standalone Intrigues, too.

Picture of Ciara said on...
12.30.07 at 06:54 PM |

Most of Lynne Graham and Michelle Reid HP titles.

Annie Gracie Gallant Waif and Tallies Knight, Harlequin historical.

Picture of Kim said on...
12.30.07 at 08:12 PM |

After thinking about it I realize that I forgot one of my favorite catagory romances The Sheik and the Virgin Secretary by Susan Mallory for Silhouette Special Edition. Despite the somewhat tacky title, and a sheik as a main character this book has one of the funniest opening chapters of a catagory romance. The rest of the book is pretty good too, although not flawless.  Completely Smitten by Mallory was also very good and funny. The millionaire series she did for Silhouette Desire was very good as well.

Picture of Terri Schaefer Terri Schaefer said on...
12.30.07 at 08:32 PM |

Sorry I’m late to the game, but I can’t recommend Maggie Price’s Line of Duty series...they’re freakin’ awesome. And anything by Merline Lovelace.  Those are usually SiM.  Along the Blaze line, I totally enjoyed Jeanie London’s series (Between the Sheets), and pretty much anything she writes…

Picture of Carrie Lofty Carrie Lofty said on...
01.02.08 at 10:41 AM |

I know I’m late to the party with my rec, but I just reviewed The Harlot’s Daughter, a M&B historical. GREAT READ.

Picture of Angel Angel said on...
01.06.08 at 01:30 AM |

Sandra Schwab,

I just read the unusual Romance by Lucy Gordon ("Italian’s Wife by Sunset") that you recommended, and I loved it! It’s become an instant favorite with me. I loved the writer’s understanding of the h/h’s psychology, and how believably their conflicts came about, and the resolution! Beautiful. It felt very ... genuine in the way that the present joy was balanced against the prospect of future loss.

And the image of the lovers in Pompeii, how the theme of a love that strong wove its way throughout the story? Gah.

((huggles book close))

Thank you so much for recommending this story!

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